Estimating the Lower Temperature Limit of Bottlenose Dolphins Along the North Carolina Coast

Abstract:

During winter, the coastal ecotype of bottlenose dolphins are at the northern limit of their
range off the coast of North Carolina. In this study, the distribution of coastal bottlenose
dolphins in North Carolina was evaluated in response to variation in sea surface
temperature to determine whether the distribution of dolphins was limited directly or
indirectly by winter temperature minima. Observations of dolphin distribution were
obtained from monthly aerial surveys conducted along the North Carolina coast during
February 2000 through July 2001. Sea surface temperatures were obtained for each
survey from NOAA’s Pathfinder satellite, using PO.DAAC Ocean ESIP Tool (POET).
Where necessary, the sea surface temperature data was interpolated (krigged) over areas
of cloud cover. The northern latitudinal and lower temperature distribution was
determined for each survey. During winter months bottlenose dolphins were not
distributed throughout their known range of 10-32 °C. Dolphins may be limited directly
by temperature, due to the limits of their thermal neutral zone, or indirectly by
temperature, through distribution of their prey. To determine how temperature is
affecting dolphin distribution in the Western North Atlantic, future research should focus
on determining the thermal neutral zone of dolphins in this region. In addition, it would
be useful to build a model including other dynamic factors that may affect dolphin
distribution. Although results suggest that more research is necessary, there is potential
for using results from this type of analysis for management.